How community notice boards are fighting back against social media

Written by Grace Harvey

I recently played a gig in Liverpool for an event called SOUP. Yes, they did serve soup as part of the evening. A SOUP is a community crowdfunding event, that happens all over the world, the first one happening in Detroit in 2010. They happen every couple of months in Liverpool, featuring a local artist as part of the evening. I was asked to step in this time aroud, and it was a delight.

The structure of a SOUP event is you make a donation on the door, before listening to pitches of local community projects. You then vote for your favourite of the four pitches and the winner receives money fundraised through the price of entry. There is the music of course, but also a section they called, from what I can remember, the 'soapbox', where anyone can get up and give a 2 minute pitch on a project they're developing.

One of the short pitches on the soap box was given by someone named Paul, opening with the line 'I'm a notice board enthusiast' or something to that effect. I was hooked! They shouted out their favourite notice boards in the city - most notably the egg cafe, pocket cafe and news from nowhere on bold street. But they pointed out, despite these flourishing boards in specific community based gathering spaces, there seems to be less connection and communication about events because of social media.

So- Liver Board was born. And I think it's genius. Their tag line, 'better without meta' and 'Find what’s on without endless doom-scrolling' sums up their ethos- connection without having to play into the game of social media, which favours eye catching, attentioon sucking media instead of actually informing people on things happening around them and connecting them to real people in the real world. (which is what social media is suppsed to do... right?). All you need to do is submit your flyer to the website, and it is share with a mailing list and on the website.

The website is strictly no ads, and very well maintained, upcoming events at the top of the page as you scroll. Paul even told me that he makes sure to digitise flyers he sees at his favourite local spots, and there are plans to make an 'archive section'.

In my chat with Paul, he also mentioned that interestingly there has been a surge of DIY cinema clubs in the city region. For this reason it has its own tab on the bottom of the wesbite. Who knows why there are so many- maybe people crave that sober but cultural communal event? Any theories, let us know. Indigo Film is also always looking for new members, join our facebook group here.

All in all it's doing something special, recognising the communities that already exist and strengthening them. Read all about why Paul made the site here. And check out the board here.